Physical activity and nutrition in educational centers
Schools and institutes work, more or less explicitly, throughout the different educational stages, on physical activity and nutrition to promote healthy habits . Although this is something that extends to all spheres of life, and is addressed across the curriculum in schools, some areas such as physical education, natural sciences, and biology face the challenge of addressing these issues directly.
The society we are part of sends very confusing messages regarding well-being and associated habits.
That's precisely why, in this matter as in others, the message conveyed from educational settings is so important. Health must be addressed prudently and from a holistic and respectful perspective.
Experience has shown us that, often, with the aim of reducing the potential risks of sedentary lifestyles or unhealthy eating , ideas, beliefs, and knowledge are instilled in children and adolescents that can significantly increase their emotional distress. This clearly poses a significant risk to students' health and well-being and can trigger or reinforce very unhealthy habits—the exact opposite of the initial objective: to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits that positively impact the health and well-being of children and young people. Indeed, the line between what protects us and what oppresses us can be very blurred.
Benefits of sport in children and adolescents
Given our responsibility as educators towards our students and our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles for their well-being, a careful process of reflection is essential. The environment in which adults, young people, and children live reinforces a perception that fat bodies are synonymous with illness, laziness, clumsiness, inactivity, or gluttony, based on a series of prejudices regarding the habits and health of overweight people.
From this complex and painful perspective, where health, beauty, and acceptance intertwine, students are exposed to two possible scenarios: rejecting their own bodies or living in fear that their bodies will change and become the socially rejected ones. Both scenarios increase distress and, therefore, distance us from the main objective: to equip students with strategies and knowledge for promoting their health and well-being.
In order for the educational center to counteract all these messages based on prejudices and stereotypes , especially from those areas where nutrition and physical activity are directly addressed, it is crucial to review whether our educational practice meets the following indicators:
Decentralizing weight as a thermometer or indicator of health
The goal of the school community is not to ensure the students' physical thinness, but rather their personal and educational development. With this in mind, we are committed to promoting healthy habits for children, as we know this is essential for their optimal growth. Friendships, healthy relationships, a desire to learn, the development of future plans, enthusiasm for daily activities, an interest in discovering new things, a sense of belonging, and so on, are all indicators of well-being that we, as teachers, can influence and that can provide us with valuable information about our students' well-being.
Deconstruct the idea that the ultimate goal of physical activity is to sculpt the body or lose weight
The benefits of physical activity are numerous. These range from improved bodily function and learning to better rest, improved mood, self-care, and social interaction, among others. Implementing activities that prioritize and value these benefits positions physical activity as a universal and recommended practice for absolutely everyone, regardless of their physical, mental, or emotional characteristics.
Physical education as a tool for empathy and respect
Creating diverse spaces for physical activity makes it easier for everyone to feel excluded from participating in this beneficial practice and breaks with the idea that it is an area where only people with normative bodies (which they must strive to maintain) can succeed, stand out and enjoy themselves , and where the rest of the body types participate on the margins through punishment, obligation or the pursuit of a body change.
Presenting healthy eating beyond the food pyramid
Eating slowly and calmly, recognizing and respecting the sensations of satiety, hunger, and thirst, and chewing food thoroughly are important aspects of healthy eating habits. So is eating without guilt or shame, or with the aesthetic goal of altering one's body image. Creating or analyzing menus based on the food pyramid and the caloric content of different foods does not guarantee the promotion and adoption of healthy eating habits. It is important to avoid activities that promote control over weight, calories consumed and burned, and the classification of foods solely based on their nutritional value. These actions can lead to the misconception that the ultimate goal of healthy eating is to avoid having a fat body and can also be the gateway to adopting very unhealthy behaviors.
Avoid activities that expose students to sharing intimate or potentially divisive information.
It is essential to keep in mind the social context in which we live and the pressures and violence to which our students are sensitive. Sharing personal data such as weight, diet, or routines outside of school can lead to comparisons, discrimination, or stigmatization, reinforcing prejudices and beliefs that are beyond the control of teachers and, of course, hinder the goal of reviewing and improving students' own health habits.
Representing healthy habits in diverse body types
It's common to see images of thin people enjoying sports and eating. It's also common to see overweight people sitting, struggling with physical activity, or eating unhealthily. It's important to break down these prejudices and show students the wide spectrum of body types participating in sports, striving for and enjoying physical activity, and eating healthily. Positive representation of all bodies in these contexts appeals to everyone and promotes health through a responsible and respectful approach to physical activity and nutrition as lifestyle habits that benefit everyone.
Health is a very broad concept with many nuances. Educational institutions, especially through physical education, natural sciences, and biology, offer teachers the opportunity to convey to students that health does not have a single, fixed form.
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